An abnormally long-standing anticyclone is the cause of the ongoing heat wave in Central Russia, a deputy head of the Russian Hydrometeorological Center said on Tuesday.
"A blocking anticyclone is a stationary anticyclone that gains momentum in a certain location and does not allow a cyclone, which could bring about more humidity and lower temperatures, to take its place," Dmitry Kiktev said. "Blocking anticyclones occur in different areas of the world every year."
The meteorologist said that in comparison to the usual life span of a blocking anticyclone, the current one has lasted for a very long time causing the extended heat wave.
He said temperatures may drop by mid-August.
Wildfires raging in central Russia due to the abnormally hot weather have claimed over 30 lives, left 2,210 people homeless and caused damages worth over 4.6 billion rubles ($150 million), the Ministry for Regional Development said on Sunday.
The wildfires have affected 14 Russian regions; the Nizhny Novgorod, Voronezh and Ryazan regions have been the worst hit.
Some 5,000 servicemen and 140 units of equipment have been engaged in extinguishing the wildfires across Central Russia.
On Tuesday, firefighters said they had already extinguished two thirds of the fires in Central Russia.
NIZHNY NOVGOROD, August 3 (RIA Novosti)
